Dec. 20, 2004: “Spotlight on Our
Economy” Monthly Column for The
Palladium-Times
By L. Michael Treadwell, CEcD, Executive Director of Operation
Oswego County
Training and Networking Opportunities
Available for Entrepreneurs
Would you like to learn how to develop a
business plan, better market your business, network with other business
owners and potential customers, or obtain business financing?
If so, there are several training and networking
resources to help you start or grow your small business including
the Small Business Development Center (SBDC), the Micro-Enterprise
Training Program and the Women’s Network for Entrepreneurial
Training (WNET).
The SBDC, a service of the
Center for Business and Community Development located in Rich Hall,
SUNY Oswego's School of Business facility, provides a wide range
of management and technical assistance such as business plan development,
exploring funding options, business expansion, marketing and training,
workshops and seminars. To make an appointment, call 312-3492.
Operation Oswego County works cooperatively
with the SBDC, the City of Fulton Community Development Agency and
the City of Oswego Community Development Office to provide a Micro-Enterprise
Training Program which is designed to guide the entrepreneur
through all aspects of starting and running a small business. The
program provides a 21-hour small-business training program that
covers such topics as how to write a business plan, how to obtain
financing, accounting and tax issues, business insurance, legalities,
marketing, and other basic business start-up issues. Classroom training
is provided by SBDC instructors Bernadette Mroz, Larry Perras and
John Halleron as well as area business professionals.
Tuition for the program is $165 and includes
all materials. Scholarships are available for households within
low to moderate income guidelines as established by U.S. Department
of Housing and Urban Development. Graduates of the program are eligible
to apply for up to $25,000 in low-interest financing to expand or
start their business in Oswego County and are eligible for one free
month’s rent (with a signed lease agreement) in one of Oswego
County’s two business incubators located in Oswego and Phoenix.
Upcoming Micro-Enterprise Training Program
classes will be held as follows:
- City of Fulton:
Oswego Falls Business Center, 163 South First Street, Fulton,
Wednesdays, Jan. 12 through Feb. 23, 6 to 9 p.m. To register,
call 593-7166;
- City of Oswego: Operation
Oswego County office, 44 West Bridge Street, Oswego, Saturdays,
Jan. 15 through Feb. 5, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. To register, call 343-3795;
and
- Operation Oswego County:
Tuesdays, Feb. 8 through March 22, 6 to 9 p.m., Minetto Town Hall,
6 Community Drive, Minetto. To register, call 343-1545.
For more information about the Micro Enterprise
Training Program class curriculum, visit www.oswegocounty.org/micro.html.
WNET is part of a nationwide
roundtable for women business owners, sponsored by the U.S. Small
Business Administration (SBA). Through networking, presentations
and information sharing, WNET provides professional development
and personal growth for women business owners. Meetings are open
to the public. A registration fee of $10 for members and $12 for
non-members covers the cost of the program and a full breakfast.
Contact Cornell Cooperative Extension of Oswego County’s Small
Business Program at 963-7286, extension 501 for more information.
For a list of upcoming seminars, visit www.oswegocounty.org/trainingnetworking.
Additionally, Empire State Development (ESD),
New York State’s economic development agency, administers
an online small business events calendar, www.nylovessmallbiz.com/EventsCalendar.asp,
which serves as a guide to workshops and seminars available around
the state. A comprehensive list of business seminars and training
can also be found on ESD’s website at www.nylovessmallbiz.com/growing_a_business/seminars_training.asp.
You may also want to check with your local
chamber of commerce for training and networking opportunities.
In economic development news around Oswego
County:
- North Shore Powder Coating
and Metal Fabrication of Constantia will specialize in
metal fabricating, custom liquid painting and powder coating,
a paint process that consists of applying powder paint to an electrostatic
charged metal object and curing it in an oven or by infrared lighting.
The owner is a graduate of the Micro-Enterprise Training Program
and will receive funding from the County of Oswego Industrial
Development Agency (IDA). The project will create six jobs; and
- Stupp’s Auto Body
and Towing of Hannibal is a new auto body repair business
that will provide towing services and will specialize in restoring
classic cars. The owner is also a graduate of the Micro-Enterprise
Training Program and received a Micro-Enterprise loan through
the IDA.
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